Jailed Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky has had his appeal against convictions for fraud and tax evasion dismissed by a court in Moscow.

Judges took less than a day to reach their decision, following a series of adjournments and delays in the case.

The court upheld all but one count against Khodorkovsky, cutting his jail sentence from nine to eight years.

Lawyers for the ex-boss of Yukos said the speed of the court's ruling proved the case was politically motivated.

"The fact that this court has delivered its ruling in just one day has proven eloquently everything we have been saying about the political control of this process," said Robert Amsterdam, a member of Khodorkovsky's legal team.

'Serious crimes'

MIKHAIL KHODORKOVSKY

1963 - Born in Moscow; parents were chemical engineers

1980s - Sets up computer and software business with fellow students at Mendeleeva Chemical Technical Institute